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Abstract:

The present invention provides a device for sorting items according to at
least one predetermined criterion. The device includes at least one
conveyor for transporting an item along at least a portion of the device,
a measuring until positioned in proximity to the conveyor for receiving
the items from the conveyor, and at least one separation gate along a
length of the at least conveyor that can be selectively actuated based on
at least one predetermined criteria measured by the measuring unit.

Claims:

1. A device for sorting items according to at least one predetermined
criterion, the device comprising: at least one conveyor for transporting
an item along at least a portion of the device; a measuring unit
positioned in proximity to the conveyor for receiving the items from the
conveyor; and at least one separation gate along a width of the at least
one conveyor and in communication with the measuring unit such that the
gate can be selectively actuated based on at least one predetermined
criterion measured by the measuring unit.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the measuring unit is a scale.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the measuring unit is an
imaging device.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined
criterion is size.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined
criterion is weight.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one conveyor is
adapted to receive items having a length and width, the length of the
item being greater than the width, and further wherein the item received
on the at least one conveyor is oriented such that an axis extending
along the length of said item is substantially perpendicular to the
direction of movement of the at least one conveyor.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one separation
gate is in a first position away from the conveyor when not actuated and
moves to a second position along a width of the at least one conveyor.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein the at least one separation
gate moves from the first position to the second position by a rotating
action.

9. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a pushing component
associated with said at least one separation gate, the pushing component
adapted to impact an item being sorted when said item contacts the at
least one separating gate, thereby directing the item being sorted to a
desired location.

10. A method of sorting items according to at least one predetermined
criterion, the method of comprising the steps of: a) providing at least
one item along a conveyor, the conveyor directing the item to a measuring
unit; b) measuring the at least one item with the measuring unit; c)
determining based on the measurement in step b) at least one
characteristic of the item; d) actuating selectively a gate based on the
at least one characteristic determined in step c); e) directing the at
least one item to a conveyor associated with the gates actuated in step
d) such that the gate directs the at least one item to a desired location
based on the at least one characteristic.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the at least one
characteristic of the item is size.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein the at least once
characteristic is weight.

13. The method according to claim 10 wherein the measuring unit is a
scale.

14. The method according to claim 10 wherein the measuring unit is an
imaging device.

15. A device for sorting items according to at least one predetermined
criterion, the device comprising: at least one conveyor for transporting
an item along at least a portion of the device, the conveyor adapted to
receive said item oriented such that a long axis of said item is
substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor;
a measuring unit positioned in proximity to the conveyor such that the
conveyor moves the item into position to be measured by said measuring
unit; at least one separation gate capable of moving between a first
position away from said conveyor and a second position along a length of
said conveyor; and a pushing component associated with said at least one
separation gate, the pushing component adapted to impact an item being
sorted when said item contacts the at least one separation gate, thereby
directing the item being sorted to a desired location, wherein the at
least one separation gate is actuated to move from said first position to
said second positioned based on a predetermined criterion of the item
being sorted.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the at least one separation
gate moves from the first position to the second position by a rotating
action.

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a device for selecting
and separating objects, and more specifically to a device for selecting
and separating food items.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] In process, industrial, and other settings it is often necessary to
sort items based on certain predetermined characteristics. Such
characteristics may include size, conformity to a standard, color, or any
other characteristic that can be readily determined by one sorting the
items. Such work is often done manually, with workers observing items as
they pass along a line or conveyor system, making judgments about those
items, and then sorting the items or otherwise directing them to a
desired location.

[0006] In the food processing industry, meat items must often be sorted
based on size, weight, or other characteristics. Much or all of this
sorting process maybe performed manually, though portions of the process
may be automated. For example, a conveyor system may be used to direct
the meat items to a scale for weighing, after which manual sorting may be
performed. Such systems generally occupy a lot of floor space as the meat
items typically pass through the system lengthwise.

[0007] What is needed is an automated system for measuring or otherwise
identifying certain criteria of items, such as food items, and then
automatically sorting the items based on those criteria, and which takes
up as little floor space as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides a device for sorting items according
to at least one predetermined criterion. The device includes at least one
conveyor for transporting an item along at least a portion of the device,
a measuring unit positioned in proximity to the conveyor for receiving
the items from the conveyor, and at least one separation gate along a
length of the at least one conveyor that can be selectively actuated
based on at least one predetermined criterion measured by the measuring
unit.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention provides that the measuring
unit is a scale.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention provides that the measuring
unit is an imaging device.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention provides that the
predetermined characteristic is size.

[0012] Another aspect of the present invention provides that the
predetermined characteristic is weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0013] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a device constructed in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a closeup side perspective view of a portion of the
device of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view the device of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a closeup side perspective view of a portion of the
device of FIG. 1.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a closeup perspective view of a separating gate and push
rod of the device of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a front/side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Turning now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like
parts, FIG. 1 depicts generally a device 10 constructed according to the
principles of the present invention. Device 10 includes a frame 12, a
conveyor 14, a scale 16, and separating gates 18a, 18b, and 18c, among
other components that are identified and described below. While the
device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is adapted for weighing items moving along
conveyor 14 and then separating them accordingly, it is contemplated that
such a device could employ any suitable criterion, or multiple criteria,
for separating items moving along conveyor 14. Further, while the device
10 shown in FIG. 1 is adapted for use in selecting and separating food
items, such as meats, it is contemplated that a device may be constructed
according to the principles of the present invention for selecting and
separating any suitable objects.

[0021] Frame 12 provides a rigid support for the other components of
device 10, and may be constructed from any suitable material. Floor space
in a factory setting is typically quite valuable, and thus one advantage
of the present device 10 is the shortened length of frame 12, and
therefore the entire device, as compared to devices currently used in the
art. The configuration of the present invention allows food items such
as, for example, loin cuts, to travel sideways along conveyor 14 rather
than lengthways as typically found in existing devices. Conveyor 14 can
be constructed from any suitable material, and it is contemplated that
for devices 10 used in the food processing industry, regulations and
other considerations for portions of device 10 that come into direct
contact with food will be taken into account. Further for specialized
food industries such as the organic food industry, other requirements may
also come to bear on the selection of materials used to construct the
various components of device 10 that contact food items. It is
contemplated, however, that such materials are known to those of skill in
the art and that it will be apparent, upon review of this disclosure,
that such materials may be utilized in the construction of the present
device 10.

[0022] Objects such as food items may be fed onto conveyor 14 in any
suitable way, whether placed on conveyor 14 manually or directed onto
conveyor 14 by an automated mechanism. Once an item, such as a meat loin,
is placed on conveyor 14 it is carried along conveyor 14 toward scale 16,
where the item is weighed. The result of the weighing determines which of
separating gates 18a, 18b, or 18c will be engaged. As shown in the
figures separating gates 18a, 18b, and 18c each include a rod 26 attached
thereto, the rod being attached also to a rotator 22. When an item is
weighed on scale 16, one of separating gates 18a, 18b, and 18c is
engaged, as determined by the weight of the item, and rotator 22 rotates
that gate such that it is positioned to be lowered to conveyor 14 and
stop the progress of the food item along conveyor 14. Once the gate has
been rotated, an actuator 20 moves the gate into proper position along
conveyor 14. The food or other item traveling along conveyor 14 impacts
the appropriate gate at the point at which the gate meets conveyor 14 and
the food or other item is stopped. Push rod 32a, 32b, or 32c then pushes
the food or other item off of conveyor 14.

[0023] When the food item or other item contacts one of gates 18a, 18b, or
18c, and is subsequently pushed off of conveyor 14 by push rod 32a, 32b,
or 32c, it travels along one of chutes 30a, 30b, and 30c to a receptacle
(not shown) or other desired area adapted to receive the food or other
item. Push rods 32a, 32b, and 32c, and chutes 30a, 30b, and 30c are shown
clearly in FIG. 2. Thus, a food or other item stopped by separating gate
18a is pushed by push rod 32a and travels along chute 30a to the item's
next destination. Likewise, if the food or other item is stopped by gate
18b, it is pushed by push rod 32b and travels along chute 30b, and if the
food or other item is stopped by gate 18c it is pushed by push rod 32c
and travels along chute 30c. Items sharing similar characteristics, in
this case weight as determined by scale 16, are directed to the same
gate, along the same chute, and ultimately to the same desired end point.
In this way, items moving along conveyor 14 are sorted according to a
predetermined characteristic.

[0024] It is contemplated that certain food or other items traveling along
conveyor 14 may fail to trigger any of gates 18a, 18b, and 18c. This may
occur, for example, when criteria set for engaging these gates is not met
by the food or other item as measured by scale 16. In such instances, the
food or other item moves to the end of conveyor 14 and travels along exit
chute 28 to a desired receptacle or other desired location (not shown).

[0025] In the device 10 shown in the figures, operation of device 10 is
controlled by a user via control panel 24. It is contemplated that
control of device 10 may occur in any suitable manner, and that device 10
may be controlled at the site of device 10, as shown in the figures, or
that device 10 may be controlled remotely. In instances wherein device 10
is controlled at the site of device 10 and control panel 24 is present,
it is contemplated that a user may control any of the various features
and variables of device 10. Such features and variables include, but are
not limited to, the speed of conveyor 14 and the criteria used to
determine which of gates 18a, 18b, and 18c will be engaged. Control panel
24 may be, for example, a touch screen associated with a computer system
for controlling device 10.

[0026] While as shown and described above, device 10 includes a scale 16
for measuring food and other items moving along conveyor 14 for selection
and separation, it is contemplated that criteria other than weight may be
utilized for selection and separation of food and other items. For
example, scale 16 may be replaced with an imaging device adapted to image
a food or other item traveling along conveyor 14 and onto or over the
imaging device. Once the food or other item is imaged, any of a variety
of selection criteria based on the image may be used to determine which
of gates 18a, 18b, and 18c is actuated, or whether the item is allowed to
continue along conveyor 14 to exit chute 28. The criteria obtained via
the imaging device and used in the selection and separation process may
include, but are not limited to, shape, color, and size. With respect to
food items, for example, the image obtained from and imaging device may
be used, in part, to determine identity, freshness, or other
characteristics of the food item that are capable of being determined
visually. It is also contemplated that an image obtained as described
above maybe compared electronically to a standard in order to determine
whether or not the food or other item being imaged is desirable.

[0027] Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention,
what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent
includes the following: